Modi government to derecognize Teesta Setalvad's NGO

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government is all set to cancel the registration of Teesta Setalvad's NGO, Sabrang Trust, for serious violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010 (FCRA).However, activist's another NGO, Citizens for

India TV News Desk [ Updated: July 24, 2015 11:42 IST ]

modi government to derecognize teesta setalvad s ngo

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government is all set to cancel the registration of Teesta Setalvad's NGO, Sabrang Trust, for serious violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010 (FCRA).

However, activist's another NGO, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) would be let off by placing it in the prior permission list, keeping in view the lesser intensity of the rule violations.

According to a TOI report, the suspension order of Sabrang's FCRA registration as well as cancellation notice are ready and will be issued next week.

The CBI registered a case against Setalvad in connection with alleged violations of FCRA on July 8. The agency claimed that her firm, Sabrang Communication and Publishing Pvt Ltd, received around Rs 1.8 crore in donations from using $2,50,000 worth of foreign contribution received from Ford Foundation for purposes other than for what it was permitted to under the Act.

The trust is alleged to have used the Ford grant to identify and lobby with 100 mediaperons to "address communalism and caste-based discrimination in India," while being registered under FCRA as an "educational and social" organisation

However, another NGO associated with Setalvad, CJP's rule violations were found be of lesser nature by the Home Ministry as compared to Sabrang.

CJP had received a small amount from Sabrang Trust and used it for purposes other than for which were intended. Certain accounting anomalies were also detected during inspection of CJP office and book of accounts, said sources.

The CBI is already investigating FCRA violations by Sabrang Communications and Publishing Pvt Ltd (SCPPL), of which Teesta is a director. SCPPL is alleged to have received Ford Foundation contribution worth $2,90,000 in violation of FCRA provisions, as the firm is not registered under FCRA and hence cannot receive foreign funding.

Teesta has had a running battle with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat government since the 2002 riots.

Gujarat Police had earlier accused Teesta and her husband of diverting and misusing funds received for the state's riot victims, a charge which she described as 'victimization' by the Modi government.